Total Recall is a remake directed by Len Wiseman of the 1990 film with Arnold Schwarzenegger. This time round it stars Colin Farrell as factory worker Douglas Quaid who begins to suspect that is a former spy after visiting Rekall after work. A company which deals with providing fake memories to its clients of a life they would rather have.
The good:
Total Recall is a surprisingly solid reboot that features better acting talent than the original. For example Colin Farrell as the new Quaid is great and handles the action well, particularly his transition from panic and fear to efficient killer is entertaining and whilst his Quaid doesn’t have as many opportunities to quip one-liners like Arnie did he stars make for a great on screen presence.
Kate Beckingsale plays Quaid’s wife Lori, who accepts the life they both lead and believes that it is fate that brought them together. Kate Beckingsale brings is effective as the villain and brings a mixture of smarts and intensity as she steals the limelight from co-star Jessica Biel as Quaid’s other love interest , “Melina” who’s character fits into the story later on in the film.
The other main surprise and joy of Total Recall, in some circumstances are the action scenes which are visually impressive. The action comes thick and fast and is provided by the bucket load. A moment never goes by where someone isn’t being beaten to a pulp, buildings and various other things exploding. There’s even a sequence involving flying cars where Quaid and Melina are on the run from Lori and her army of suspicious looking Attack of the Clones-style robots.
The “Total Recall”, remake also contains some nice references from the original and a stylish new look which is pretty cool and features a look of what the world and indeed London would look like in the future and is given a “Blade Runner” feel to it.
Total Recall 2012
The bad:
The main problem with the Total Recall remake is that it tries to cram in as much as possible in its running and in some instances it feels like it’s never going to end as it stretches to a sometimes grueling 118 minutes. Also the film starts a selection of great supporting cast including Bill Nighy, who only pops up briefly as “Matthias”, a character in which the film is centered round. and is of great importance to the story that by the time we finally meet him it barely registers. He has such short screen time; it’s almost a cameo role. They other problem is the villain who is played by the brilliant Bryan Cranston [“The Lincoln Layer”, “Rock of Ages”], and is so underused as the villain who only shows up fully in the third half of the film and doesn’t feel much of the threat until later on in the film.
Conclusion:
Overall, “Total Recall”, is a solid enough reboot with some nice new touches which makes the future look cool. It features some excellent action scenes and a great lead in Colin Farrell, Kate Beckingsale also makes a terrific villain and even thought Len Wiseman’s version does contain flying cars it’s not the same without Arnie.